"Up Close" with Tavious Polo

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By Andrew, Jul 28th 2010, 10:13 AM

A soon to be four-year starter, cornerback Tavious Polo is one of the most decorated Florida Atlantic Owls in program history. Crashing onto the scene his freshman season, Polo had 53 tackles and seven interceptions that year, giving him Freshman All-American and First-Team All-Sun Belt honors. Polo will look to start this season again at cornerback and hopes to live up to his Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt selection.

Playing in 37 games and both FAU bowl games throughout his career, Polo has faced a lot of defenses and made a lot of plays, as he does hold the FAU recorded for interceptions in a single season. However, Polo’s best outing came in one of FAU’s biggest wins against Minnesota. Tallying three interceptions and seven tackles that day; Polo was selected as the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week.

A two-way athlete while at South Plantation High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Polo played wide receiver and defensive back his senior season, while claiming All-Broward County honors and returning a punt for a touchdown.

Polo recently sat down with us for “Up Close”.

Quick Hits

What is your favorite food?

“I like all types of chicken, but I like chicken alfredo.”

What is your pet peeve?

“When somebody says that can’t do something, and give up.”

Who is your current off the field role model?

“My grandma, she’s a strong black woman who has been through a lot as a child, and to see her overcame all of the adversity she has been through.”

What are you most proud of?

“My life, another day to breathe and another day to see life.”

What is your major?

“Arts and Humanities. I take classes in acting and some stuff in the musical department, so if hopefully everything works out with the NFL, I can extend my career in music or acting.”

What is your Faith?

“Faith in God.”

Line of scrimmage

What aspect of your game do you feel is your strength?

“My competitiveness and my attitude.”

What aspect of your game do you feel is your weakness?

“Strength is one of the main things, and weight ties in with that. Probably the biggest thing I need to work on is trying to be a leader and be a role model for younger kids who look like up to me.”

Down the field

Besides football, what brought you to FAU?

“Staying close to my family, so they can come to every game and stay close to my grandma so she can see me play in games, because she had to work during my high school ones.”

What are your goals for the upcoming season?

“Make it to the season confident, with extra weight, extra strength, extra teammates, and the young guys getting prepared.”

What game are you looking forward to the most next season?

“The season opener, the first one. That starts off the season, and a win there can lead to many more wins.”

What do you want FAU fans to know about you personally?

“I’m down to earth, and I can turn it on and cut it off when I want. I got a lot of style.”